Kitchen utility device



May 28? 1935- A. c. GILBERT ET AL, 2,003,259

xrrcrmu UTILITY DEVICE" Filed Jan. 4, 1'93; s Sheets-Sheet 1 y 1935- A. c. GILBERT E! m. 2,003,259

' KITCHEN UTILITY DEVICE Filed Jan. 4, 1933 s sheets-sheet 2 Patented Mey" 1935 2,003,259

UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE- KITCHEN UTILITY nnvlcn Alfred 0.. Gilbert, North Haven, and Arthur A. Arnold, New Haven, Conn, aaslgnors to The s A. 0. Gilbert Company, New Haven, Conn.

Application January 1933, Serial No. 650,112 7 3Claims. (crass-#131) This invention relates to kitchen utility devices breaker connec ed to h D w l ck t the deof the type in which an electric motor drives vice; and suitable elements for mixing or beating materials Fig. 12 is a detail front elevational view of the and likeopel-ations, connection between the pedestal and the motor one f th objects of our i v ti i t structure as it appears when the agitator ele 5 furnish a device of this character capable of Derments a i t e elevated Positionforming a large variety of diflerent operations iS gene al ea s 011 device as Pa ticuand which is strong and rugged and yet inexlarly illustrated herein comprises a base adapted pensive. to support receptacles of diflerent sizes and Another object is to furnish provisions of an shapes; a ped stal ris fr m th as an elec- 10 improved character whereby one or more agitatric tor pivot d 0n the D1 end P on o tors depending into a suitable bowl or mixing the pedestal to swing in a Vertical p a s a receptacle and driven from above by an electric case associated with the end of the electricmomotor can be moved to an inoperative position tor overhanging the base; agitator shafts pro- 16 so as to clear the bowl or receptacle and enable J' cting downwardly from h ar case and 5 the latter to be withdrawn from its position on driven from the motor; an extractor shaft prothe base. jecting upwardly from the gear case and adapted Another object is to provide an improved arto drive a reamer located in a juice-collecting rangement 01' parts whereby the electric motor and delivering bowl which may be supported on so is adapted to drive at slow speed various accestop of the gear case; and a power outlet socket sory appliances such as food choppers, coffee associated with a power shaftin the gear case grinders, ice cube breakers, and the like. and located transversely with respect to the mo- Another object of the invention is to provide tor shaft and adapted for the connection an improved arid superior organization of parts of various accessory appliances to be driven a in a kitchen mixing device oi the type in which at a relatively. low speed, such as a food chopan electric motor drives one or more depending per, coflee grinder, ice cube breaker, or the like. agitating elements, and also drives a power shalt In the example selected for illustration, the having a so-called power socket associated therebase is indicated generally at A, the pedestal at with for the connection of a food chopper or like B, the motor at C, the gear case at D, the dean appliance. pending agitators at E, the fruit reamer at F,

Another object which we. have in view is the the Juice-collecting bowl at G, and the power provision of an arrangement of parts whereby socket for the connection of the accessory apthe food chopper or like appliance can be suppliances, at H. plied with the required power for the purposes The base A can be made of any convenient as, in view. form for supporting bowls and other receptacles To these and other ends the invention consists in position beneath the agitators E. The pedesin the novel features and combinations of parts tal B is preferably located'at the rear end of the to he hereinafter described and claimed. base, and at its upper end, which is somewhat In the accompanying drawings: oflset from the longitudinal axis of the pedestal l isan end elevation of a kitchen utility proper, the pedestal is preferably formed as a d v yi g w hmv nts, showing the fork inrorder that the motor and the gear case juice extracting instrum es in position on associated with the motor may be conveniently the device; pivoted to the pedestal. In the particular ex- Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device shown ample shown the forked portion of the pedestal in Fig. 1; is free to turn relatively to the remainder. of i5 3 is a top Vi w the Same, with the. the pedestal, or, in other words, the forked porilmit reorder and juic -c ll c ing howl omitted; tion has a swiveled mounting so that the motor "his. 4 is a Se 0H 3111s of and ,the parts "carried thereby can be shifted 5 is an enlarged sec on on e 5- oi laterally relatively to the base, but this is not iii; necessary in all cases. In the example illustratbii his. 6 is n enlarged Section o time of ed the forked portion or swiveled upper extension of the pedestal is shown at 26. This part his. 7 is a section on iine H -i oi his. 6; 29 rests at 2| upon the upperedge portion of 8 is an nlars d i n on n 3 5 the pedestal proper. The pedestal proper is made as of round cross-section and hollow and at its '55 9 is a, section on line 3--9 of Fig. 8; open upper end it receives a depending generally 1G is a bottom plan view of certain parts cylindrical projection 22 formed integral with shown in Fig. 6, with the cover of the lower gear forked member 20, and a set screw 23 passing ease removed; through the side wall of the pedestal proper is E ii is a detail view showing an ice cube adapted to engage an annular groove 26 in the into groove 24 maintains the member, in swiveled relation to the pedestal proper, and by proper adjustment of the screw 23 member 2|! can be caused to turn with the desired amount of friction in its socket. By making the pedestal hollow and providing member 20 with a through bore 25 it is possible to lead an electric conductor 26 from the hollow base up to motor C in a convenient manner, and it will be observed from Fig. 4 that the conductor 26 can be disposed substantially in a straight line so as to avoid kinking or turning of the same in leading it from the interior of the pedestal proper to the motor.

Preferably the member 20 is provided with a fork at its upper end having branches or arms 21 between which is received a lug 28, and a pivot pin 29 passing through and connecting the arms 21 engages a bore in the lug 28 so that the lug is free to turn on the pivot pin. In this manner the motor structure is pivoted on the pedestal to swing in a vertical plane.

The lug 29 is preferably formed as an integral extension of a small bracket 30 cast integral with the front end shell 3| of motor C and depending from said end shell. The bracket 30 preferably comprises a web 32 and a flange 33 lying in a plane substantially intersecting the pivot pin 29. At its lower end the flange 33 is adapted to abut at its rear face the front face of a shoulder 34 projecting forwardly from member 20. When the flange 33 engages the shoulder 34, the motor structure is substantially horizontal, and the contact of the flange with the shoulder will prevent further downward movement of the agitators E.

The arms 21 of the forked member 20 are preferably inclined upwardly and forwardly from the base portion of the fork-shaped member, and the pivot pin 29 when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2 lies in a vertical plane which is somewhat in front of the vertical axis of the pedestal proper. The arrangement shown enables us to provide for an ample tilting movement of the motor structure so as to bring the agitators E to a relatively high position, because when the agitators .are lifted the motor C is free to move until its lower middle surface comes down into contact with the rearwardly disposed and inclined surfaces of the forked member, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2. The construction above described enables us to mount the motor on the pedestal in a comparatively simple manner with the connection being made between the pedestal and the front motor shell, it being unnecessary to provide a special supporting means for the remainder of the motor structure. The rear end shell 35 of the motor structure and the intermediate shell 36 thereof and the parts contained within the motor casing are all sustained from the front end shell 3|, which is the only part supported directly from the pedestal. Preferably the motor C is of the type in which a number of longitudinal bolts 81 are secured in and interconnect the opposite end shells of the casing.

When the tilting motor-actuated structure is tilted to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2, a considerable amount of weight is shifted into a position rearwardly of the pivot, and the structure can be caused to maintain its upwardly tilted position after release by the operator and until such time as the tilting structure is manipulated to swing it back to the normal operating position.

' The gear case D contains gearing shown more particularly in Figs. 5, 6 and '7. In the gear case is an'extension 35 of the shaft of motor C, which extension is provided at its outer end with aworm 35. Worm 39 meshes with a spiral gear 40 on a vertical shaft 4|. Shaft 4| has a bearing 42 in the removable cover plate 43 of gear case D, and it also has a bearing ina sleeve 44 projecting downwardly from and preferably integral with the gear case at the lower end of the latter. Below spiral gear 40 a worm 45 is pinned to shaft 4|, and worm 45 meshes with a spiral gear 46 on a horizontal so-called power shaft 41, which extends to the so-called power socket H. This power shaft 41 serves for the operation of attachments using considerable power, such as food choppers, ice cube breakers, and the like. The juice-collecting bowl G may be conveniently positioned on top of the gear case D, and it has a bottom opening (not shown) fitting around the bearing sleeve 42. The bottom of the bowl is adapted to rest on ribs 48 projecting upward from the cover plate 43. A transverse pin 49 extending through the shaft 4| at the upper end portion thereof is adapted to engage the reamer F in the usual manner. After disengaging the reamer from the shaft the bowl G can be readily removed from the appliance by lifting it upwardly.

Engaging the downwardly projecting bearingsleeve 44 is a small housing 50 containing gears for driving the agitators E and: constituting in effect a portion of gear case D. The housing has a socket in which sleeve 44 is received, and a screw 5| detachably holds sleeve 44 in its socket. On the lower extremity of shaft 4| 9. small spur gear 52 is secured by a screw 53, shaft 4| having a squared portion 54 fitting a correspondingly shaped socket in the upper face of gear 52. Gear 52 meshes with a spur gear 55 in gear case 59,

and gear 55 meshes with and drives a further spur gear 56. The gear 56 is positioned about and drives spindle 51 of one of the agitators, and gear 55 is disposed about and drives spindle 58 of the other agitator. At their lower portions the spindles 51 and 58 are equipped with beater blades or agitator elements of any desired form. Spur gear 55 is rigidly secured to a hub member 59 rotatable in case 50, and gear 56 is rigidly secured to a similar hub member 60. The upper ends of these hub members 59, 60 project upward slightly out of case 5|]. In its upper portion spindle 55 is provided with a squared portion 6| adapted to engage a correspondingly shaped socket in the lower part of gear 55 so that the spindle is nonrotatively engaged with the gear. Above portion 5| spindle 58 has a cylindrical portion 62 having near the upper extremity thereof an annular groove 53 adapted to be engaged by a springpressed anti-friction ball 64 for the purpose of yieldingly securing the spindle in driving engage; ment with its associated gear. It will be understood, however, that when it is desired to remove the spindle from the gear this may be done by exerting a relatively small amount of downward force'on the spindle. in substantially the same manner as spindle 56.

The spindle 51 is mounted Either spindle may be removed without interfer- 7 65 and E6 in the gear case. Shaft 41 has a somewhat enlarged cylindrical portion 61 on one end thereof provided on its end face with a groove the power shaft. The gear it, previously mentinned, is pinned to the shaft 81 by a pin 1 i.

A device such as an ice cube breaker or the like may be attached to the power socket, and in Fig. 11 we haveshown an ice cube breaker at it. The projecting portion i3 of this ice cube breaker or other device enters the socket H and is held therein by a clamping screw 14. The ice cube breaker or other appliance has an operating shaft with a tenon l5 fiting into the groove or notch 68 in the end of the power shaft. This power shaft may be used for operating other appliances than an ice cube breaker, for example, a food chopper or a coffee grinder. The reduction gearing between shaft 41 and the motor shaft is such that the former shaft will rotate quite slowly and with ample power for performing the required functions.

The projecting portion or trunnion 13 of the ice cube breaker or other attachment has a pin I6 extending laterally therefrom to engage a notch 11 in the side of the power socket whereby the attachment is prevented from turning in the socket. The clamping screw H serves to prevent endwise displacement of the attachment relatively to the socket.

In mixing a beverage it is usual to remove on of the agitators and to employ a single agitator extending down into a glass resting on the base.

The juice-receiving bowl G has the usual discharge spout 18.

By swiveling the motor-operated superstructure on the pedestal, itis possible to swing the agitators laterally relatively to the base, and if desired, the agitators or one agitator can be caused to enter a receptacle located at one side of the base rather than on the base. The swiveling of the superstructure also, of course, provides for the operation of the juice extractor while the bowl that receives the juice is located at one side or the other of the base, and this increases the scope of the device and adds to the convenience of its use. The screw 23 or its equivalent, which is adjusted to engage the fork-carrying member 20 with the desired amount of friction, serves as a means for preventing dislocation of the motor and agitators when they have been swung to the desired adjusted position in a horizontal plane;

Various changes can be'made in the details of the structure without departing from the scope of our invention as defined in the claims. We have not attempted to describe the various modifications which may be made without departing from the principles of our invention.

What we claim is:

1. In a kitchen utility device, the combination of a base, a pedestal rising therefrom, a bracket pivoted to the upper end of the pedestal to swing in a vertical plane, a motor fixed on the bracket and movable therewith, a gear case adjacent one end of the motor casing, a vertical shaft journaled in said gear case, worm gearing for driving said vertical shaft from the motor shaft, a power shaft located below the motor shaft and below the gearing connecting the vertical shaft with the motor shaft, said power shaft being disposed substantially at right angles to the motor shaft and located between the vertical shaft and the motor, a socket on the gear case associated with said power shaft for the connection of various accessory appliances, worm gearing connecting the power shaft with the vertical shaft so that it is driven therefrom, a fruit reamer connected with the upper end of the vertical shaft, and a depending agitator driven from the lower end of said vertical shaft.

2. 'In a kitchen utility device, the combination of a base, a pedestal rising therefrom, a bracket pivoted on the upper end of the pedestal to swing in a vertical plane, a motor carried by the bracket and movable therewith, a gear case adjacent one end of the motor, a vertical shaft journaled in said gear case, worm gearing for driving said vertical shaft from the motor shaft including a worm on the motor shaft and a worm gear on said vertical shaft meshing with said worm, a power shaft located below the motor shaft and below the gearing connecting the vertical shaft with the motor shaft, said power shaft being disposed at right angles'to said motor shaft and located between the vertical shaft and the motor, worm gearing connecting said-power shaft with said vertical shaft so that it is driven therefrom and comprising a worm on said vertical shaft and a worm gear on said power shaft meshing with said worm, a fruit reamer driven bythe upper end of said vertical shaft, and a depending agitator driven by the lower end of said vertical shaft.

3. In a kitchen utility device, the combination of an electric motor having a horizontal shaft, a bracket supporting said motor, a pedestal to which said bracket is pivoted to tilt up and down,

shaft, agitators removably connected to and depending from said gears and having ,overlapping paths of rotation and adapted to stir the contents of a receptacle supported on said base, a horizontal power shaft having hearings in said gear housing, a power socket associated with the gear housing for the connection of various accessory appliances to said power shaft, and reduction gearing for driving said power shaft from said vertical shaft, said agitators and said power shaft being tiltable with said motor, said power shaft being transverse to and below the motor shaft and between said motor and said pair of gears driving said agitators, and said power socket being located at the side of the gear housing between the agitator shafts and the pedestal.

ALFRED C. GILBERT.

ARTHUR A. ARNOLD. 

